Clothes drier and airer



Dec. 16, 1952 s. HODGES CLOTHES DRIER AND AIRER 2 SHEETS-Sl-1EET 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 Dec.'16, 1952 s. HODGES CLOTHES DRIER AND AIRER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1951 5 F u b u u u n w u u n. w u u n n w 9. a w n h u 1 u n n u n 2 n n w n 0 n u "l n n n n n m 0 n n n u u no 5 I51 l O J pkl 7 w 5 Patented Dec. 16, 1952 CLOTHES DRIER AND AIRER Sally Hodges, Enfield, England Application February 9, 1951, Serial'No. 210,242 In Great Britain February 16, 1950 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to an electrically heated apparatus for use in drying or airing clothes, fabrics and like articles.

It is amongst the objects of the invention to provide a compact and robust apparatus of light weight and economical construction with which drying or airing operations may be carried out rapidly and without risk of damage to even very delicate fabrics.

In accordance with the present invention a drier or airer is provided comprising a pair of thin metal sheets connected to spacing members whereby the metal sheets are held in face-to-face relationship but spaced by a small distance from one another, an electrical resistance heating element enclosed between and insulated from said metal plates and disposed in a zig-zag or other tortuous path distributed over the major part of the area of the metal sheets, and supports attached to edges of the pair of metal sheets.

The electrical resistance heating circuit preferably includes a heat-responsive or thermostat element in a position where it is subjected to the heat between the metal sheets and a switch actuated by said element whereby the circuit is broken when a given temperature is attained and a lamp may be provided to indicate when heating current is flowing.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing a complete drier or airer according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation on a larger scale showing the metal sheet assembly detached from its supports.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus.

' Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the lower end of one of the supports, and

Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section showing part: of the connection between the metal sheet assembly and a support.

Referring to the drawings, I and 2 represent two rectangular sheets of good heat conductivity metal such as aluminum, connected faceto-face but spaced from one another, by riveting to two thin metal bars 3 and 4 placed between the sheets I and 2 at the upper and lower ends thereof respectively, the length of the bars 3 and 4 being suchas to provideoutwardly extending end lugs 5. The upper edge of one of the metal sheets I or 2 may be lapped over the upper thin metal bar 3.

An electrical resistance heating conductor 6 suitably insulated, e. g., by means of one or more wrappings of woven glass vfibre,.is arranged to extend to and fro or over a zig-zag path between the side edges of the narrow space between the metal sheets I and 2, the traverses of the conductor 6 being spaced vertically so that the conductor is distributed over the whole area of the space between the sheets I and 2 as shown in Fig. 2.

In the case illustrated the turns of the conductor 6 are fixed in position by passing the conductor through folded loops I of asbestos strip,

the loops of asbestos being held between the side edges of the metal sheets I and 2 and fixed by means of wire staples 8 passed through the edges of the metal sheets I and 2 and the asbestos; and a vertical bulge or channel 9 is formed in at least one, and in the case illustrated both of the metal plates near the side edges thereof to accommodate the bulges formed by the parts of the asbestos loops 1 where they envelop the conductor 6 and its insulating sheathing.

At the centre of the upper end of the sheet assembly and between the sheets I and 2 is mounted a thermostat In of any suitable known kind, said thermostat being connected in series with the conductor 6. 1

To the projecting end lugs 5 of the upper spacing bar 3 are fixedly connected blocks II of moulded plastic or other electrically insulating material and provided with threaded holes I2 extending through the blocks from back to front, and upon one of these blocks II is mounted a holder I3 for a lamp I4.

To the projecting 'end lugs 5 of the lower spacing bar 4 are fixedly connected internally threaded and downwardly extending metal sleeve I5, and to one of the lugs is fixed an electrical terminal block I6.

One end of the conductor 6 is connected to the terminal block I6 and the other end to one side of the switch controlled. by the theromstat It).

The other side of the thermostat switch is connected to one of the terminals of the lamp holder IS on one of the blocks II and an insulated return lead I! extends from the other terminal of the lamp holder I3 to the terminal block IS. The return lead Il may be held in position bypassing it through holes in the parts of the absbestos loops I projecting outwards from the side edges of the metal sheets I and 2. An appropriate resistive shunt I8 is provided between the terminals of the lamp holder I3. I

Each side edge of the above described assembly is covered by the application thereto of a split tubular member l9, the said tubular member I9 in the case illustrated being of square section formed by bending sheet metal, the split extending longitudinally of the center of one of the sides of the square.

The split 20 in each tubular member I9 is of a width to permit a side edge of the sheet assembly to pass into the interior of the tubular member I9, the latter being mounted by sliding them longitudinally over the blocks I I, and when mounted the tubular members I9 close and conceal the open side edges of the space between the sheets I and 2 and the tubular member I9 at one side covers and encloses the asbestos loops I, the terminal block I 6 and the return lead H.

The tubular members I9 in the case illustrated are of a length to extend over the whole vertical length of the side edges of the sheet assembly and for a short distance below, the downwardly extending portions forming legs 2| for the apparatus and being provided with feet 22 affording a stable support.

Fixing of the tubular members I9 to the sheet assembly is effected at the upper end by registering tholesin the front and rear walls of the members I9'with the holes I2 in the blocks II and insertingscrews 23 from the front and rear.

At the lower end the members I9 are provided with apertures 24 in the front and rear walls. Apertured bridge pieces 25 with end lugs 26, are passed through the two opposite holes 24 in each tubular member I9 and screws 21 passed from the lower ends of the tubular members I9 through the bridge pieces 25' into the above described downwardly extending threaded sleeves I5 fixed to the end lugs 5 on lower spacing bar 4. With this arrangement the light-weight sheet assembly is'effectively held under vertical tension in the stifi tubular members I9.

The upper ends of the tubular members I9 are closed by applied knobs 28 of which at least that one covering the lamp I4 in the holder I3, is'of transparent or translucent material.

The inner walls of the tubular members I9 at eachside ofthe split 20 are provided with a series of spaced holes 29'and into selected holes of the series are inserted the bent ends of "rods 30 of spring metal adapted to carry the clothes or other articles to be dried or aired.

The supporting feet 22 for the apparatus may' be formed'as shown in Fig. 4 of strips of'sheet metal 3I connected at each end to astrut 32 of bent metal rod the ends of which are engaged in holes in opposite walls of a tubular member I9.

The strips "of sheet metal 3| are bent .to provide atone end a hinged connection 33 withone strut 32 andat the other end a detachable springhook connection 34 with the other strut 32.

By uncoupling the spring hook connection 34 with the strut 32 the strip 3| may be swung about the hinged connection 33 with the other strut 32 and thereafter the strips 3-I and the struts 32 folded'flat'aga'inst the outside of the tubular members I9, an arrangement offering the advantage of compactness when the apparatus is stowed'away.

The strips 31 are preferably bent at'the centre of their length to provide a channel section projection 36 fitting within the lowerend of its respective member I9.

A suitable lead 3'! is passed through an aperture 38 in one of the tubular members I9 and connected with the terminal block I6, the lead 31 being provided with a suitable end connector (notshown) for the purpose of connecting the apparatus to a source of current supply.

With an apparatus as described abovein which.

the heating element is spread over the surface of metal sheet assembly, the heat distribution over the metal sheets is substantially uniform and whilst a large overall power may be consumed no part of the apparatus becomes hot enough to damage materials being dried, aired or heated. Normally, the heated sheet assembly, when the apparatus is in use, is covered by the materials being treated andrelatively little heat is lost to the atmosphere.

In some cases however suitable covering sheets 39may be provided at one or both faces of the apparatus to enclose the materials being treated, such coverings being suspended upon metal rods 48 "pivotedin lugs M on one of the tubular members .in suchumanner that the coverings may be swung. towards-and away from the heated surfaces of the apparatus (see Figs. 1 and 3).

1. Drying or airing apparatus comprising a, pair of spaced metal sheets disposed in. face-to-face relationship, ail-electricalresistance heating ele-: ment enclosed between and insulated from said metal sheets and disposed in a tortuous-path distributed over the major part of the area of the said'spaced metal sheets, and supports for said spaced metal sheets, said supports comprising split tubular members embracing opposite edges of the assembly comprising the said 'pair' of spaced metal sheets.

2. Drying or airingapparatus comprising a pair of spaced metal sheets of general rectangular.

opposite edges, and supports for said'spaced pair of metal sheets, said supportsicomprismg split tubular members embracing the other two opposite edges of the assembly comprising "the said pair of spaced metal sheets and'closing the space between the said pair of metal sheets at said other two opposite edges.

3. Drying or airing apparatus comprising a pair of spaced metal sheets disposed in face-to-face relationship, an electrical resistance heating element enclosed between and insulatedfrom said? metal sheets and disposed inazig-zagpath between two opposite edges of the assembly comprising said pair of spaced metalsheets and distributed over the major part of the area of the said spaced metal sheets, loops of insulating strip material holding the said electrical resistance heating element at points adjacent said two opposite edges; and supports for said metal sheets,

said supports comprising split tubular'members" each embracing one of said two opposite edges and the points of connection of the said loops of insulating material adjacent the'said one of said two opposite edges.

4. Drying and airing apparatus comprising a pair of spaced metal sheets disposed in face-toface relationship and atleast one of said sheets having bulges near two opposite edges thereof and extendingoutwards from the space between the said pair of metal sheets, an electrical resistance heating element enclosed between :and'

insulated from said metal sheets and disposed in a zigezag pathbetween'the said two opposite edges of the metal sheet'containing thesaid bulges. and" distributed over the major part of the area of said spaced metal sheets, loops of insulating strip material enveloping the ends of the turns of the zigzag heating element with the parts of said loops enveloping the said resistance element in register with the said bulges near the said two opposite edges of one of the sheets, and supports for said spaced metal sheets, said supports comprising split tubular members each embracing edges of the two sheets at one of said two opposite edges.

5. Drying or airing apparatus comprising a pair of spaced metal sheets of general rectangular form disposed in face-to-face relationshi an insulated electrical resistance heating element enclosed between said metal sheets and disposed in a tortuous path distributed over the major part of the area of the said metal sheets, spacing members disposed between the said pair of sheets at two opposite edges of the assembly comprising the said pair of sheets and closing the space between the said pair of metal sheets at said two opposite edges, and extensions of said spacing members, extending beyond the other two opposite edges of the said assembly, and supports for said spaced pair of metal sheets, said supports comprising split tubular members embracing said other two opposite edges of the said assembly and the end extensions of the said spacing. members, and fixing means fixedly connecting the supports and the said end extensions.

6. Drying or airing apparatus comprising a pair of spaced metal sheets of general rectangular form disposed in face-to-face relationship, an insulated electrical resistance heating element enclosed between said metal sheets and disposed in a tortuous path distributed over the major part of the area of the said metal sheets, spacing members disposed between the said pair of sheets at two opposite edges of the assembly comprising the said pair of sheets and closing the space between the said pair of metal sheets at said two opposite edges, and extensions of said spacing members, extending beyond the other two opposite edges of the said assembly, and supports for said spaced pair of metal sheets, said supports comprising split tubular members embracing said other two opposite edges of the said assembly and the end extensions of the said spacing members, and screw fixing means disposed longitudinally of the said split tubular support members and making fixing engagement with the end extensions of the spacing members and imposing tension upon the said spaced metal sheets in the direction between the said spacing members.

'7. Drying or airing apparatus comprising a pair of spaced metal sheets disposed in face-to-face relationship, and electrical resistance heating element enclosed between and insulated from said metal sheets and disposed in a tortuous path distributed over the major part of the area of the said spaced metal sheets, and supports for said spaced metal sheets, said supports comprising split tubular members embracing opposite edges of the assembly comprising the said pair of spaced metal sheets, and extending longitudinally of and beyond the ends of said opposite edges to form legs for the apparatus.

SALLY HODGES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,521,241 I-Iale Dec. 30, 1924 1,743,638 Tefft Jan. 14, 1930 1,914,190 Herr June 13, 1933 2,110,660 Doczekal Mar. 8, 1938 2,494,861 Chapman Jan. 1'7, 1950 2,567,434 Hoskings Sept. 11, 1951 

